Step 1: Interleukin-1 (IL-1), formerly called lymphocyte-activating factor (LAF), is a key proinflammatory cytokine produced mainly by macrophages. Step 2: Its hallmark action is acting as an endogenous pyrogen; it resets the hypothalamic thermostat to produce fever, augments T-cell activity, and induces acute-phase reactants. Step 3: Antiviral activity is the role of interferons, not IL-1, so that option is wrong. Step 4: Among the options, IL-1 functioning as an endogenous pyrogen is the correct and most characteristic answer.